UNH Information

The University of New Hampshire space scientist is among the researchers waiting
to hear the fate of the NASA Compton Gamma Ray Observatory. By March, the
satellite could meet a fiery end, burning up in the Earth's atmosphere and its remains
landing harmlessly in the ocean.

The end of the satellite would come as no surprise to UNH scientists working within
the Space Science Center of the university's Institute for the Study of Earth, Oceans
and Space. For the past nine years, research associate professor McConnell, project
director and physics professor Jim Ryan and chief operator John Macri have
overseen the operations of the COMPTEL Imaging Telescope, collecting and
studying its data. The telescope is one of several instruments aboard the Compton
Observatory, launched in 1991 aboard the shuttle Atlantis.

The observatory has always had a limited life span, McConnell points out. NASA
had planned to bring the 17-ton satellite, equipped with gyros and thrusters, into a
controlled re-entry into the Earth's atmosphere. In December, one of its three gyros
failed, so it became imperative that a decision be made on the re-entry or possible
retrieval by the shuttle. That decision is expected by Feb. 16.

"This is not an unexpected thing," says McConnell, who began initial work on the
COMPTEL telescope in 1987. Ryan came aboard in 1982 and Macri's the veteran,
having worked on the project since 1978.

Although the trio expected the Compton Observatory's time would soon come, the
timing couldn't be worse: the Sun is approaching solar maximum, a time of increased
flare and solar activity. The Compton Observatory would have been in place to study
solar activity only seen every 11 years.

They also mourn the loss of continued information on the mysterious phenomena
known as gamma ray bursts. The COMPTEL Imaging Telescope has continuously
scanned the heavens for evidence of these bursts. In 1993 came the so-called "Super
Bowl Burst," the highest energy gamma rays ever detected. In 1994, UNH scientists
found a gamma ray burst that repeats, which meant rethinking current theories on
what causes bursts.

The COMPTEL also allowed UNH researchers to ponder the mystery of one of the
closest, most recent supernova explosions yet. And just last fall, a UNH-hosted
symposium of international gamma ray astronomers was interrupted by news of a
"whopper" gamma ray burst, prompting researchers to scurry from the conference
site to their offices for a closer look at incoming data.

In fact, researchers continue to analyze data and will do so for months to come, no
matter Compton's fate. "We haven't milked it yet for all it's worth," says McConnell.
"So there's still a lot of science to be had." He adds: "We've been pretty fortunate to
have gotten the data we've gotten."

Scientists discovered, for example, that COMPTEL could detect gamma ray bursts at
incredible distances, outside our galaxy. "That was one of the big surprises," says
McConnell. "We're dealing with incredible amounts of energy here." Researchers
also were able to map out the amount of radioactive aluminum in the galaxy, and have
detected solar flares much smaller than previously recorded.

UNH could be back in the gamma ray business soon, however, NASA is now
considering a proposal from UNH to fund the Gamma Ray Large Area Space
Telescope (GLAST). A decision is expected soon.

"COMPTEL certainly exceeded our expectations," Ryan concludes, "and it would
certainly continue to do so -- if it stayed up."

UNH Professor Mark McConnell is available for more comment at
603-862-2047.